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UN Convention

UN CRPD IMPLEMENTATION

Service provision in the disability sector has been undergoing substantial changes over the past years, and many services that were set up according to the medical-based approach to disability, are currently moving away from this model towards the human rights model introduced by the UN CRPD whereby needs and preferences of the individual are at the core of the attitude towards disability. These fundamental changes in the services design and delivery are clearly yet to be fully accomplished, at policy and at practical level, and they represent the challenge for the service provision of tomorrow as well as for policy makers at EU and national level.

Since the UN CRPD came into force it has become the core of EASPD’s political strategy. EASPD has been since actively contributing to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by raising awareness with stakeholders at national and international level and cooperating with its members to constantly improve and innovate services for persons with disabilities in a co-produced way and according to the principles of the UN CRPD. Our members are committed to facilitate human rights enjoyment within the framework of the Convention and to empower persons with disabilities. Individualised tailored made services are the objectives they pursue as these types of services pave the way towards inclusion in society, and they participate in reinforcing social cohesion. The CRPD recognises this role by saying that assistance in relation to inclusion and services are guaranteed by the rights included in the Convention.

EU - UN Constructive dialogue

Since the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force within the European Union (2010), 2015 is the first year that EU policies will be assessed by the United Nations (UN). This process will hereafter occur periodically at least every 4 years. As a first step in the EU report’s evaluation, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopts a “List of Issues” (April 2015). In August 2015, the EU-UN dialogue will be concluded with “Recommendations” from the UN to the EU on how to further implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The evaluation of the EU Report by the United Nations takes place in two steps:

At first the United Nations CRPD Committee reviews the EU report adopting a “List of Issues” on which the EU is required to provide further information.

In a second phase the EU report is reviewed during an open hearing where the UN adopts “Concluding Observations” which include a set of recommendations to the EU on how to further engage in the CRPD implementation.

EASPD alternative report

EASPD has sent a report to the United Nations (UN) compiling the views of service providers for persons with disabilities on the progress made towards ensuring compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the European Union (EU). The report stresses the European Disability Strategy’s lack of recognition of the role played by support services, whilst calling on the EU to adopt a “social investment approach”, overhauling its perception of services as a “cost”.

EASPD will continue to monitor closely the progress made by the European Union to fulfil its obligations towards the CRPD and will strive to reinforce its cooperation with the United Nations to improve and fully align its values and principles to the UN CRPD.

EASPD's accreditation to the Conference of States Parties

As part of its cooperation with the United Nations (UN), EASPD is also accredited since 2014 to the UN Conference of State Parties – a conference that is held annually at the United Nations premises – where signatories and accredited organisations gather to look at CRPD implementation issues and exchange views and expertise on the different Articles.